Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-02-18
a aambling-Hous Episode.

a aambling- House Episode.
once Witnessed an occurrence in q
New York faro bank which I shall new
er forget as long as live Among the
regular customers of the game there
was a young man who held position
in his fathers Office, prominent down
town merchant. Although he was Meth
or cool nor lucky player, and rare
" left the table winner, he still con-
tinued to frequent tho gaming-table for
no other purpose than to appease an
Unsuitable appetite. Thus the young
player naturally lost considerable mon
ey, and his father having discovered
his haunts, sent word to the proprie-
tors of the game, forbidding them to ad-
NIT his son in the future. But tho
parties thus cautioned failed to pay any
attention to this notice, and the young
man continued coming.
One afternoon, about O'Clock, while
he was sitting at the table playing, the
bell rang and the negro servant ad-
mitted tail, venerable-looking gentle
man, whose hair was as white as snow.
He stepped up to the table, placed his
RICH hand upon theyoung mans should
er, and. addressing himself to the deal
er, said:
"This young man is my son. I have
cautioned you not TO admit HIM, but you
have not needed my warming. I now
give you notice that if you let him
play here after this you do so at your
peril"
The dealer looked at the speaker with
an insolent contemptuous expression,
and said, sneeringly:
Il don't care whether you are the faith
er of any of my players or not. That
young man looks as if he were 81, and I
guess he is able to attend to his own
business"
Then, turning to the negro, he said:
John show this gentleman to the
door" And again he looked at the
new conner in O derisive and sneering
way.
But he had made his reckoning with
out his host. The old gentleman drew
himself up to his full eight and while his
eyes flashed fire, he said, in aloud, clear
voice:
"Ah, Mr.. Dealer, you know very we'll
that what [ have been saying is no
laughing matter, and. though only one
man has blown out his brains in your
room and spoiled your handsome car
pet with his blood, you have not the less
cruelty assassinated dozen more with
your devilish game, even though you
may have done SO indirectly. How
many more of your victims have become
suicides in consequence of your hellish
operations? l dare say you do not care
to know. You are a very jolly fellow,
I have no doubt, and you drive fast
horses in the park. Your plate is mag
nifcent, and I am told tho dinners
which you set forth to the patrons of
your house every afternoon of the week
are good; but if you could have the
power of the clairvoyant bestowed up
Oh you I reckon you would never laugh
or race or drink more. Everywhere
around you you would see accusing
ghosts pointing at You ghosts that
would not only arraign you for their
murder but for the infinite legacy of
evils they bequeathed to the living at
their death through your cause. Moth
ers, wives, and sisters starry
ing; girls pacing YEARLY tho pave
bidding for dishonor; boys, born
to lead better life, thieying in the
streets because their father lost his
money at your table, Mr.. Dealerl All,
sir, there is many man that likes to
make money and spend it as we'll as
you, but he would not traffic in hearts
and lives and honors even could he
thereby acquire all the riches of the
world and live in the very midst of
gold. When man pulls out 70 IL Of
bills and hands it to you to he changed
into chips you know not but the happi-
ness of his entire family is wrapped up
in that greasy bundle. I declare
would rather never have lived than
have registered against me the quantity
of curses that have been heaped upon
your head, you cruel, remorseless as.
;sassin When I see you in the street..
sleek and we'll dressed, driving q
| splendid turnout, hate you, and were
is not for the laws of the land and of
conscience would put bullet through
you without delay. I hear the groans
OF breaking hearts in the roll of your
wheels; Isee the death warrant of
thousand honors written in every wrin.
kle of your abominable, smiling count
tenance, confound you! Why are you at
large? We chain up tigers and lions.
Is there, can there be more ferocious,
bloodthirsty beast than you are?"
While he spoke everybody in Che
room kept perfectly quiet. Yo1 might
have heard pin drop. The fearless
speaker was not again given the hint to
leave The dealer did not utter one,
word in reply. He finished the deal
and rose from his chair, which was ut
once occupied by one of his assistants,
and the game went on as though moth
ing had happened. In the meantime
the old gentleman had left IN company
with his son.
The dealer took seat in q corner.
and for an hour did not stir. He:
seemed to be absorbed in deep thought.
On the first day Of the following month
he drew out his interest in the game.
and fitted up a saloon in elegant style
on Broadway, in the neighporhood Of
18th street. I remember we'll that the
*opening took place on the LIST day OF
May, in the year 1868 or '69, but the
:proprietor's mind became affected after
the lapse of few months. lie at times
grew so violent that it soon became
necessary to confine him in an asylum,
where he died raving maniac before
the end of the year.